3/24/12

If I could look into heaven...


Here is something you don't see everyday; a hole in the clouds!  Imagine it was a magnifying glass and you could see right into heaven.  What would you see?  Someone has and his name is Stephen.  When he was brought before the council, he had a view of it and here is an excerpt from his "sermon" found in the book of Acts......


WEB: Acts Chapter 7

[44] “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; [45] which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, [46] who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. [47] But Solomon built him a house. [48] However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,

[49] ‘heaven is my throne,
and the earth a footstool for my feet.


What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord;
‘or what is the place of my rest?


[50] Didn’t my hand make all these things?’


[51] “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. [52] Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. [53] You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”

[54] Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. [55] But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

The Jews stoned him for this.  A painful death, but like Jesus he asked that they be forgiven for their actions.  What exactly did he see; was it something like the picture?  No idea, but he did see Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  Since this image places Jesus in a position of authority, its no wonder the Jews reacted so violently.  They simply did not accept that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah and refused to listen to such things.  Their loss, our gain.  The Bible is full of imagery of what heaven is like, but since we are told that Jesus is there, what more do we really need to hear?  I don't know how you feel about it, but I want to be where someone really loves me; enough to give up their life on my behalf.  That's all the insight I need!!!!